ZIMBABWEAN international striker Knowledge Musona returned to Kaizer Chiefs on a high note this week.
A solitary goal from Musona handed Kaizer Chiefs a 1-0 win in their Absa Premiership match against the University of Pretoria at the FNB Stadium on Monday night.
The result took Chiefs tie on points with Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the league table, but second on goal difference.
Chiefs started positively and applied pressure on the Tuks goal from the first whistle, and it was that pressure that led to the opening goal in the sixth minute of the match.
A poor clearance from Washington Arubi fell to Bernard Parker and he quickly put Knowledge Musona through on goal.
The Zimbabwean international made no mistake with a cool finish in a one-on-one situation with the keeper, 1-0.
The next chance on goal came ten minutes later and it was Musona in the thick of the action again, but this time he saw his powerful grass-cutter from 25-yards out well-saved by Arubi.
In the 23rd minute Eric Mathoho came close to scoring when he met a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner-kick, but his six-yard header went inches over the crossbar.
Mathoho was at it again in the 31st minute when he rose highest to meet an in-swinging free-kick from the left courtesy of Parker, but his header went just over the crossbar.
At the opposite end of the park, Itumeleng Khune was virtually on holiday and was not forced into a single save in the first half.
Tshabalala had the last say of the half as some fine skill saw him make his way into the box in the dying seconds of the stanza, but he saw his thunderbolt well-saved by the Tuks keeper.
The half ended 1-0 in favour of Chiefs.
The start of the second 45 saw Tuks playing more enterprising football and they began creating some chances of their own.
Two minutes after the restart Geoffrey Massa tried his luck from long range, but the Tuks man saw his effort sail over the crossbar.
In the 51st minute Tuks had their best chance to equalise as a corner-kick was met by Buhle Mkhwanazi, but his header went inches over the target.
Three minutes later and Chiefs mounted their first attack of the second stanza as a left wing cross from Parker was met by Musona, but the striker volleyed the ball over the target from eight-yards out.
The game lost a bit of its pace after that and chances on goal became scarce.
Parker was the next player to have a decent effort on goal in the 75th minute, but he saw his shot from just inside the box well-saved by the keeper.
In the 78th minute Chiefs handed a debut to Philani Cele, who was promoted from the Amakhosi development structures, as he came on for Tshabalala.
A minute later and Tuks managed their first effort on target as Mpho Maruping headed a left wing cross goalwards, but Khune was on hand to make his first save of the match.
Neither team could muster any more clear-cut chances on goal as the game ended 1-0 in favour of Chiefs. – Goal.com/The Patriot